Bulgaria harvests record 7.4 mln tons of wheat, expects sharp rise in corn and sunseed yields

Bulgaria has harvested a record wheat crop for the second consecutive year, with production reaching almost 7.4 mln tons. The increase was driven by high yields amid favorable weather conditions, while the country’s wheat area declined by almost 7%.

Average wheat yield reached 6.3 t/ha, up 9% from 2025 and 12% above the five-year average. Bulgaria recorded the second-largest increase in wheat yields versus the five-year average in the EU, behind only Romania.

The outlook for corn also remains favorable. According to MARS, moderate temperatures in July and August and the absence of severe heat stress supported crop development, while rainfall maintained adequate soil moisture across most of the country. Corn yield is forecast at around 5.5 t/ha, 29% above the five-year average and more than double the 2025 level.

Strong results are also expected for sunflower, a crop in which Bulgaria plays an important role in the EU market. Sunflower yield is forecast at around 2.3 t/ha, 13% above the five-year average and 37% higher than in the previous season.

Bulgaria therefore has a considerably better outlook for spring crops than several other EU countries affected by heat and drought this summer. Crop conditions deteriorated somewhat in August, but corn and sunflower yield forecasts remain well above their long-term averages.

Tags: Bulgaria, corn, wheat, sunseed